Old Lyme center
52 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Living in Old Lyme, Connecticut
Old Lyme sits where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound in New London County. It was set off from Lyme as its own town in 1855 and renamed the next year for Lyme Regis, England, and it became known in the early 20th century as home to an American Impressionist art colony centered at the Florence Griswold House.
Old Lyme at a glance
- 16.86 millsReal estate tax rate, fiscal year 2026–27
- 20–25 minDrive to New London
- New LondonCounty · Lower Connecticut River Valley
Old Lyme's villages and zip codes
Old Lyme has 3 villages or sections. Whatever the mailing address says, they're all part of the Town of Old Lyme for property taxes and town services.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Old Lyme center | 06371 | The town center along Lyme Street, near the Florence Griswold Museum and Memorial Town Hall. |
| Sound View | 06371 | A beach neighborhood on Long Island Sound. |
| Black Hall | 06371 | A section between the town center and the shoreline. |
Old Lyme covers about 28.8 square miles and borders Lyme, East Lyme and Old Saybrook. It was incorporated in 1855.
Things to do in Old Lyme, CT
Start with Florence Griswold Museum and Lyme Art Association, then 2 more below.
Florence Griswold Museum
The former home and boarding house of Florence Griswold, center of an American Impressionist art colony in the early 1900s, now an art museum with period rooms and changing exhibitions.
96 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT
Lyme Art Association
A gallery adjacent to the Florence Griswold Museum showing work connected to the Lyme art colony tradition.
Lyme St, Old Lyme
Rogers Lake
A 265-acre lake stocked with trout, with public access at Hains Park for fishing, swimming and boating.
Old Lyme
Old Lyme Congregational Church
A church building that has been painted by many of the town's Impressionist-era artists; a well-known local landmark on Lyme Street.
Lyme St, Old Lyme
More worth a visit
- Sound View BeachA Long Island Sound beach area with a boardwalk.
A little history
Old Lyme was originally part of Lyme, which was set off from Saybrook in 1665; the South Lyme section incorporated as its own town in 1855 and was renamed Old Lyme in 1857, after Lyme Regis, England.
In the early 1900s, Old Lyme was home to an American Impressionist art colony centered at Florence Griswold's house on Lyme Street, now the Florence Griswold Museum.
Lyme disease takes its name from Old Lyme, after researchers investigated a cluster of arthritis cases among children there in 1975.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Old Lyme
Old Lyme's outdoor recreation runs from Rogers Lake inland to the tidal marshes and beaches where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound.
- Rogers LakeFishing, swimming and boating access at Hains Park.
- Sound View BeachA Long Island Sound beach with a boardwalk.
- Watch Rock ParkA shoreline park in Old Lyme.
- Connecticut River tidal marshesWetlands near the river's mouth used for birdwatching and paddling.
Where to eat in Old Lyme: restaurants and coffee
3 places in Old Lyme to try, including italian restaurant and restaurant. No one paid to be listed.
Illiano's Ristorante
Italian restaurant
An Italian restaurant on Boston Post Road.
163 Boston Post Rd, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Old Lyme Inn
Restaurant
A restaurant on Boston Post Road in a historic inn building.
Hideaway Restaurant & Pub
Restaurant/pub
A restaurant and pub on Halls Road.
Walkability and getting around Old Lyme
The Halls Road shopping area and stretches of Boston Post Road have sidewalks, but Old Lyme's villages are spread across marshland and shoreline, so a car is needed to reach most beaches and neighborhoods.
Drive times
- New London, about 12 miles20–25 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
The Estuary Transit District operates local bus service in Old Lyme. The nearest train station is across the river in Old Saybrook, served by Amtrak and Shore Line East.
Old Lyme property taxes and home prices
Old Lyme's 2026–27 mill rate is 16.86, which is $16.86 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. Connecticut taxes a home at 70% of its appraised value, so every $100,000 of value costs about $1,180 a year in taxes at 16.86 mills.
What homes in Old Lyme sell for
| 12 months ending | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | $616,00091 sales | $500,0009 sales |
October to September, state records. Text us for this month's sales.
Old Lyme's mill rate for 2026–27
16.86mills, fiscal year 2026–27
- Town of Old Lyme16.86 mills
- Miami Beach Association (where it applies)+3.00 mills
- Old Lyme Shores Beach Association (where it applies)+2.80 mills
- Old Colony Beach Club Association (where it applies)+2.45 mills
- Point O'Woods Association Inc (The) (where it applies)+2.13 mills
- Rogers Lake West Shores Inc (where it applies)+0.90 mills
- Motor vehicles16.86 mills
- Next revaluationOctober 1, 2029
How Old Lyme's mill rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Town rate |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 23.50 |
| 2023–24 | 23.50 |
| 2024–25 | 24.40 |
| 2025–26 | 16.23 |
| 2026–27 | 16.86 |
Old Lyme's town rate went from 23.50 in 2022–23 to 16.86 in 2026–27. Next revaluation: October 1, 2029.
Look up a Old Lyme property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Town ClerkLand records, deeds and vital records
- Assessor's officeQuestions about an assessment: 860-434-1605 ext. 219
Buying a home in Old Lyme
What we check on a Old Lyme purchase: CHFA limits, the flood map and coastal flood zones.
First-time buyer programs in Old Lyme
CHFA sets Old Lyme's income and price limits for New London County. We check them with you before you shop.
See CHFA's limits mapCheck the flood zone first
Old Lyme's shoreline along Long Island Sound and the mouth of the Connecticut River puts Sound View, Black Hall and other low-lying sections within FEMA coastal flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for Old LymeBudget for flood insurance near the shoreline
Old Lyme's beach neighborhoods and riverfront sections sit in FEMA coastal flood zones. We check the flood map and factor flood insurance into your budget before you make an offer on shoreline property.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. CHFA and USDA limits and eligibility are set by those agencies and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Old Lyme?
Send us a Old Lyme address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Old Lyme: utilities, trash and town offices
Who to call in Old Lyme: Eversource for power.
- ElectricEversource
- Trash and recyclingCheck the Town of Old Lyme's website for current trash and recycling collection details.
Town offices and contacts
Old Lyme Town Hall is at 52 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371. Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Main line: 860-434-1605. Each link opens that office's page on the town's website.
- Town HallMain line and town website860-434-1605
- Town ClerkVital records, land records and elections.860-434-1605 ext. 221
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.860-434-1605 ext. 219
- Tax CollectorProperty tax billing and collection.
- Building DepartmentBuilding permits and inspections.
- Planning & ZoningLand use and zoning review.
- Parks & RecreationTown parks and beach access.
- Region 18 school districtRegional School District 18 (Lyme and Old Lyme).
Old Lyme, CT FAQ: taxes, prices and town services
The short answers. Call or text us for the long ones.
What is the mill rate in Old Lyme, CT?
Old Lyme's 2026–27 mill rate is 16.86, which is $16.86 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. Some areas also pay a fire or special district tax on top of that. The motor vehicle rate is 16.86 mills.
How much are property taxes on a $500,000 home in Old Lyme?
Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of appraised value, so a $500,000 home would be assessed at about $350,000. At 16.86 mills that's about $5,901 a year, or about $492 a month, before any district tax. The actual bill depends on the town assessor's appraisal, not the price you pay.
When is Old Lyme's next revaluation?
Old Lyme's next revaluation takes effect October 1, 2029, on the state's schedule. The new assessments first show up on the tax bills due in July 2030.
What county is Old Lyme in?
New London County, in the Lower Connecticut River Valley.
What is the zip code for Old Lyme?
06371.
Is there train service near Old Lyme?
The nearest station is across the river in Old Saybrook, served by Amtrak and Shore Line East.
How far is Old Lyme from New London?
About 12 miles, roughly 20–25 minutes by car.
What are Old Lyme town hall hours?
Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, at 52 Lyme St.
Towns near Old Lyme
Neighbors of Old Lyme in New London County and nearby. All New London County towns.
Sources
- Mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "Mill Rates for FY 2014–2027," data.ct.gov. Revaluation year: OPM, Revaluation Schedule 2023–2037.
- Home sales: "Real Estate Sales 2001–2024 GL," data.ct.gov. Medians use Old Lyme sales recorded October 1 to September 30, leaving out sales the town flagged as non-market.
- Old Lyme, Connecticut - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Town Clerk Services - Old Lyme, CT: oldlyme-ct.gov
- Assessor - Old Lyme, CT: oldlyme-ct.gov
- Walkability: Walk Score®, Bike Score® and Transit Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Checked September 25, 2026.